There’s plenty happening in Siskiyou County this long Memorial Day weekend, including the Mushroom, Wine and Music Festival in McCloud, Dunsmuir’s Dogwood Daze celebration, Wesak in Mount Shasta, and some Memorial Day services.

Here’s a listing of things you might want to check out in south Siskiyou County over the next few days:

Sat., May 25

DOGWOOD DAZE -- New events and old are scheduled for Saturday’s 4th annual Dogwood Daze celebration in Dunsmuir.

Opening the day will be a pancake breakfast put on by Dunsmuir High School athletics from 7 to 10 a.m. at DHS. The cost is $5. Money raised will go toward the Tiger athletic program.

Highlighting the day will be the Pie Social in the Amtrak Depot put on by the Dunsmuir Railroad Depot Historical Society. Homemade pies will be sold by the slice for $3, ala mode for $4 or whole to take home for $20 from 10 a.m. until sold out. Proceeds go for the maintenance of the historic railroad depot and museum.

It’s Dogwood Daze, but organizers say not dogs are allowed in food areas.

The Growers’ Market will be open adjacent to the Pie Social. Produce and started plants, crafts and handmade cards will be sold as well as books and photographs by local authors and artists. For market information call Wendy Crist at 235-4963.

The annual Dunsmuir Garden Club Flower Show will be held in the Community Building. There is no charge; doors open at 10 a.m. for flower viewing.

Tickets will be available for the Garden Club Home Garden Tour for $10. Several local gardens will be shown. Proceeds go to a Dunsmuir High School scholarship. To enter your flowers in the judging call Fran Fields at 235-4025.

Next door in the Botanical Gardens, tours will be given at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Native dogwood trees will be highlighted. Meet in the park near the picnic tables.

The Dunsmuir Chamber Soapbox Derby run by “Big” Dave Keisler returns. Starting time is 8:30 a.m. on Dunsmuir Avenue near the Children’s Park, and Soapbox cars can be rented. Categories include Minis, ages 3-6; Juniors, ages 7-9; Teens, ages 10-15; and Adults, ages 16 and over. Fees are $5 for kids; $10 for adults. Trophies and cash prizes will be given. Soapbox cars can be rented. For more information call Keisler at 925-9365.

The Doggie Parade will follow the Derby at 11:30 a.m. on Dunsmuir Avenue, which will be closed for the Derby and parade. Participants will gather at the Upper Pine Street Park. There is no fee and pre-registration is not required. Prizes will be given in the following categories: Best Hair, Best Costume, Most Colorful, Best Tail, Best Trick, and Best Combo. Costumes are not required, adults and children are welcome. No aggressive dogs or dogs in season allowed. All dogs must be on leash.

Page 2 of 4 - Popular north state musician Gerry Smida will return as a strolling minstrel all day in the historic district. He will lead the Doggie Parade at 11:30 down the street to the city parking lot, where dogs and handlers will be judged before heading back up Dunsmuir Ave. to Pine St. Park.

Art studios of Fred Gordon and Candace Miller will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Siskiyou Arts Museum and Gift Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring artist Raymond Howell, a Bay Area painter whose work has hung in many large cities and galleries. The exhibit of his work is owned by Thamar Wherrit of Mount Shasta.

Down the block, the Community Resource Center will have a barbecue lunch outside behind Belnap Fountain. Games and face painting for kids will be offered.

Buy a lunch for $4.50 and whole tri tips for $16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Evening entertainment has been expanded from last year. Dunsmuir Brewery Works will offer live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with patio dining available. Dunsmuir’s own Village Harpist Patty Hill will play Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The annual city-wide yard sale will be in full swing all weekend; residents may list their sale for free with the Dunsmuir Chamber at 235-2177. Merchant specials will be offered by downtown businesses.

Dogwood Daze began in 2009 with numbers of people stepping up and ordering dogwood trees to plant in memory of loved ones. More than 52 dogwood trees have been planted on Sacramento Avenue, Dunsmuir Avenue, the Children’s Park, and Hedge Creek Falls Park.

Rosters listing names and tree numbers are located on Sacramento Avenue and at Hedge Creek Falls Park.

Maps listing all events, dogwood trees, yard sales, art and studio locations will be available at the Dunsmuir Chamber office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at major event locations.

For information call the Chamber office at 235-2177.

This event is put on by the Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce Dogwood Daze Committee. It is sponsored by the Dunsmuir Chamber, City of Dunsmuir, and Pacific Power.

Two days of continuous live music will be provided from a variety of musicians from McCloud High’s Rock and Roll band, Victor and Allison, and Saturday’s headliner DGIIN playing gypsy dance music for all ages; they recently played at the San Francisco De Young Museum.

Saturday evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m., the McCloud Art Society will host its annual Siskiyou Artists Show featuring a variety of mushroom appetizers from local restaurants. Admission is free.

Then the McCloud Outdoors Shop will have its first Moonlight Kayak on the McCloud Reservoir from 7 to 11 p.m.

Sunday’s schedule includes many of the same festivities such as mushroom and medicinal workshops. Sunday’s live music will feature local musicians including bluegrass bands. See the live entertainment schedule on page 2 in this week’s In The Spotlight section.

To top off the evenings, Farm to Forks Mushroom Dinners will be provided by the King of Mushrooms (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings) at a special farm location to be announced. For more information, call 530-859-2634.

Fri., Sat. and Sun., May 24

WESAK -- Organizers of this year’s Wesak event have decided to hold the celebration at Mount Shasta City Park, lower lodge and basketball court, and the Dudes and Daisies building. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 24 and end on Sunday, May 26 at 9 p.m.

“We are excited about the new venue,” said Dawn Fazende. “The location has beautiful natural surroundings, including the headwaters, and plenty of room for attendees to spread out.”

Tickets are on sale now in Mount Shasta at Soul Connections, Village Books, and Herb and Health; and online at http:www.wesak.us. Tickets purchased online are ordered through Paypal.

“Because we have more space now, vending booths are still available,” said Fazende. Call Barry David at 918-9555 for vending.

Leonard Orr, the discoverer and founder of the worldwide Rebirthing Breathwork movement, is the featured speaker at this year’s Wesak celebration, which is being held as a fundraiser for Mount Shasta’s Meals on Wheels Program.

Orr discovered and developed the technique known as “connected breathing,” where the inhale and exhale are merged with no pause in between.

Orr is considered as one of the originating pioneers of the New Age movement and Prosperity Consciousness. He has devoted over 40 years of his life to spreading his ideas and the healing power of Rebirthing Breathwork around the globe, covering six continents and circling the globe dozens of times. He has authored over 20 books in more than a dozen languages.

Page 4 of 4 - Also scheduled to participate are: ARE (Edgar Cayce) historian Raymond Tarpey; antiquities scholar Stephen Mehler; author Meg Blackburn Losey, PhD; professional psychic and reader Joseph Martin, creator of Quest Tarot, voted Best New Age Product and winner of the Visionary Award of Excellence; and Jude Unegbu a West African shaman.

The focus of this Wesak is “Year One of the New Earth: Building a Template for the Age of Aquarius.”

“We are taking our cue from a quote by Marianna Williamson, ‘With every century, people see things differently. A 21st Century worldview is emerging – of oneness, interdependence and the primacy of consciousness – but calcified institution stay stuck in the limitations of 20th Century thinking. Our job is to be the presence of the Alternative wherever we are, always presenting another way to see the world whenever love is not put first,’” said Fazende.

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE -- The Memorial Day service at the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden is scheduled for this Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. The garden is located on US Highway 97 approximately 13 miles north of Weed.

US Army Major Jimmy T. Chen is the keynote speaker. The Marine Corps League, Siskiyou Detachment is the Color Guard and will give the gun salute.

John Kessler will play “Taps.” Scottish bagpiper David Alexander will open the ceremony and close with “Amazing Grace;” followed by the benediction given by Pastor Dean Whetstine of the Mount Shasta Assembly of God Church.

Forty new names of honorably discharged veterans will be dedicated at this service.

Those attending should bring chairs for seating. The service proceeds even if there should be inclement weather.

Mon., May 27

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE -- 10 a.m., Lincoln Cemetery in Weed. Message by Reverend Henry Gaines. All are welcome to attend.